NFL Week 13 Picks

Houston (5-6) 27 @ Philadelphia (7-4) 38
The AFC South is becoming the most interesting division this year. Houston avoided from being in last place last week by shutting out Tennessee, but both teams are only out of it by 1 game. While the Jags and Colts sit atop with a 6-5 record. As for Philadelphia they lost their 1 game lead to the Giants, as the Jags didn't do them any favors against them last week. Tough defeat to take last week against the Bears. But what kept the Giants in the game 2 weeks ago is what doomed the Birds last week. They need to score Touchdowns when they get into the Red Zone, something the Bears did in their victory. Asante Samuel should be back for this Thursday nighter, and oh boy do the Eagles need him as Andre Johnson comes to town. I gotta say that was the best football fight I have ever seen. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SBT6MygnKKw&feature=related. If Andre wasn't a football player, he would have been a damn good boxer. This game is going to be a dog fight because you can say that this is a must win for both teams. With one of the league's worst Defenses, expect huge numbers from the Eagles. The only problem is that Houston can answer right back.

Washington (5-6) 13 @ New York Giants (7-4) 17
Can McNabb do the Eagles a favor and please beat the GMen in this NFC East battle. The Giants hung in the all game last week with the Jags and were able to come out on top. Washington will be out of the division race with a loss here, so don't sleep on them this week. Both teams are hurting, which will make this a very interesting matchup.

Denver (3-8) 24 @ Kansas City (7-4) 31
You think Haley had this date circled after the 49-29 whooping in Denver a couple of weeks ago. Bowe has just been unbelievable this past month, will it continue in December?

Jacksonville (6-5) 24 @ Tennessee (5-6) 13
You know if Houston wins Thursday night and the Tennessee and Dallas win on Sunday- this all division will be tied at 6-6 with 4 weeks to play. It appears that Penn State alum, Kerry Collins, is back and will at least have the Titans score- unlike last week. Jacksonville's Garrard has either been hot or cold this season. Nothing in the middle for him. Tennessee is 0-3 since the "no risk" Randy Moss trade. Do you still think this is "No Risk" Mr. Fischer? Jacksonville looked lifeless in their Monday Night game at home against the Titans earlier in the season. But I see the Jags coming back from that in this one.

San Francisco (4-7) 10 @ Green Bay (7-4) 24
Green Bay has been losing close games all season. All 4 have been by 3 points and two of those games went into OT. San Francisco kept their NFC West title chances alive with their dominating performance in Arizona. Unfortunately they lost Gore for the season (bad for the Heines as the playoffs start next week in fantasy), but they do have my main man outside of Philly Brian Westbrook. Boy did he looked good on Monday filling in for Gore. Green Bay should be able to handle the Niners in this one.

Cleveland (4-7) 17 @ Miami (6-5) 20
Chad Henne surprised me last week by playing in Oakland and also performing well. Now they get to face a team no one wants to face in the Browns. The highlight of the week last week comes courtesy of Peyton Hillis http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aI1RipTlCYc, just straight TRUCKED Godfrey (I wonder if Hillis will get fined for that hit). I like the Browns in this one, but with the 'Fins home I'm going with them.

Buffalo (2-9) 13 @ Minnesota (4-7) 20
Tough break for the Bills last week in Buffalo. The game was in Stevie Johnson's hands and it slipped away. Minnesota won Leslie Frazier's first game as coach in Washington last week. He actually did what a good coach will do and that is to USE Adrian Peterson till he gets hurt, which unfortunately he did and might be out in this contest. They do have a promising rookie in Gerheart though who will carry the load if Peterson is unfit. Either way I see the Vikings winning this one.

Chicago (8-3) 27 @ Detroit (2-9) 17
That was a huge victory for the Bears last week, as the Falcons did them the favor of beating their nemesis to gain complete control of the NFC North. And it also puts the Eagles 2 games back on them for the bye (even though it is really 1 game, the Bears hold the tiebreaker) with 5 left to play. Detroit will be going with Drew Stanton as their QB this week which tells me all I need to know about this game.

New Orleans (8-3) 31 @ Cincinnati (2-9) 16
The Saints got lucky last week as Roy Williams gave them the game. Don't be surprise if the Bengals win this one.

Oakland (5-6) 10 @ San Diego (6-5) 31
This is a must win for the Raiders to keep their playoff hopes alive, but this is a tall task as the Chargers are the hottest team in the league right now. They just man handled Manning last week in Indianapolis. They are 4-1 in their last 5 games against the Colts but I decided to go with a pissed off primetime Manning instead of the Charger dominance of the Colts last week. Oakland appears to be in a free fall and will need to get out of it fast. They will need game changing turnovers in this one just as they had in their previous matchup to win.

Carolina (1-10) 10 @ Seattle (5-6) 20
Speaking of free falls, Seattle has lost 4 of their last 5 (the one victory being the lowly Cardinals). Carolina has been lost all season and with the Qwest field crowd knowing the 'Hawks need victory will be going nuts in this uneventful game. Taking the 12th man in this one.

Atlanta (9-2) 27 @ Tampa Bay (7-4) 24
Tampa hung in there with Atlanta last time they played. They actually had the ball for a Game wining drive but an interception by Freeman sealed the win for the Falcons. Atlanta will look for a win to keep the Saints in their rear view mirror. Not a must win for the Dirty Birds, but you can say that this is must for the Buccaneers. A victory here and then we can take the Bucs seriously the rest of the way. Another defeat will just say that they are the best inferior team in the NFL.

St. Louis (5-6) 34 @ Arizona (3-7) 13
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jErsW7rgHBs. Need I say more.

Dallas (3-8) 17 @ Indianapolis (6-5) 28
This is the tough pick of the week. Can the Colts possibly loss 3 in a row? Can Dallas rebound from a game they should have won? Manning has been looking less than human these past couple of weeks, but I just can't see him losing 3 in row.

Pittsburgh (8-3) 20 @ Baltimore (8-3) 17
Game of the Week #2. How many fines will be handed out after this game? The Ravens got a lil lucky last time they played. The Steelers got lucky last week. Big Ben is playing hurt with a sprained foot, but will be playing. The Ravens got a scare last week with Oher going down, but he practice in full yesterday. As for their fullback Maclain, I don't see him playing but don't count him out just yet. I'm rolling with the guy who is 5-0 against the Ravens in his last 5 starts. What's crazy about this game along with the Jets and Patriots, the winner will likely get the the all important bye while the loser will most likely enter the playoffs as #5 or #6 seed.

New York Jets (9-2) 24 @ New England (9-2) 21
Game of the Week #1. These two teams hate each other, which makes for great football. The Patriots will look to continue and break the NFL record for Tom Brady with the longest regular season winning streak by a NFL QB. Brady is tied with Favre right now with 25 straight. The Jets have a 8 road game winning streak going for them. One of them will break. I'm going with the local team and picking the J-E-T-S to have them control their own destiny for the #1 seed in the AFC.

Last Week: 12-4

Season: 115-61